1 Peter 1: 1-5…. An introduction worth reading many times!

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Comment: Peter was an apostle who spent about 3 years with Jesus, side by side. I love the burly writer of this book, prone to put his foot in his mouth, denying his friend, yet restored to leadership. His introduction is pretty typical of openings of letters of the time – stating who is the author; who are the recipients and, as far as Christians were concerned, a greeting of grace and peace. The ‘election’ mentioned seems to me have two meanings – primarily to what God, the Father Son and Holy Spirit, has done for them, but also in their being scattered around into many places to be His people.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Comment: There is emphasized here the past, present and future aspects of salvation in Christ.

• Past – born again – that is into membership of God’s forgiven people.
• Present – HOPE which gives us expectation and purpose for living even in difficult situations. We will see tomorrow just how difficult were the situations. Plus the guardianship of God’s helping power in the present to bring us to the future.
• Future – The reality as seen in His resurrection of a future promised indestructible future inheritance. This will be revealed when He, Jesus, returns. (here described as ‘in the last time.’)

Prayer: What a hope you give us in Jesus, Father God.